Theme:      Rival Poet
Content:    A plea to his patron to see the Rival as a thief. No self-aggrandisement in this poem; all is centred on the author's weakness, the space made for his Rival, and the threat his Rival poses. Increasing desperation expressed by the author at the Rival's increasing prominence.

• "I was the first poet to approach you to be patron of my works. I was the only one to write for/of you."
• Emphasis on the singularity of the author's relationship with the patron (personally and in verse) with both lines' use of alone.
• References to the patron are always flattering, here with the alliterative gentle grace.

• "My muse has currently left me though, now giving room for a rival to fill the space created."
• numbers refer to the sonnets (i.e. 14 lines of 10 syllables lines). gracious probably refers to the sonnets that his patron (Lord, Grace) has commissioned r inspired.
• Self-deprecation on the current quality of his poetry that has given room for a Rival to come on the scene.
• 1st. quatrain is centred on the author (I...my...my...my) but putting himself down rather than flying high as in the previous sonnet.

• "You deserve better verse than I am currently capable of writing."
• Again reveals the modesty and self-effacement of the author. No belligerence, arrogance or aggression. He yields.
• At this yielding, there is no further reference to the author in the rest of the sonnet. He's exclusively interested in the Rival and the patron.

• "The Rival poet steals from you and merely gives back what was taken."
• Critical statement on the lack of originality of the Rival: he steals from his subject in order to give.
• The reference to robs may be a pun on the subject's name who may have been Robert Dudley, Duke of Northumberland.
• 2nd. quatrain is centred on the patron: thy...thee thy...thee...thee.

• "The virtue the rival poet gives you is yours in the first place."
• The Rival only lends, he doesn't give. He steals, he doesn't borrow.
• Shakespeare is really upset about the threat of this Rival and his attitude has hardened from the milder comparisons of 78.
• I really like this idea and the twist on robbing, lending, stealing and giving.

• "The Rival poet can not give you any more than what is already yours."
• The Rival is bankrupt. He cannot afford anything. He can only give or lend what he has stolen from his patron.
• 3rd. quatrain is centred on the Rival (He...he...he...he...) and patron (thee...thy...thy...thee...thee).

• "Don't thank a thief for giving back what he stole."
• The perspective of the Rival is now turned from a robber and a stealer to a debtor: one who owes.
• Conversely, the subject's position as a patron who literally pays for the poets' services is explicitly stated, contrasting with the Rival's paying of something he doesn't own in line 8.
• No mention of the author even in the final couplet: the issue is the Rival and patron.
• Beautiful conclusion to the sonnet's theme and gentle final softening of the tone with extensive use of th words: Then…thank…that…doth…thee…thou…thyself.